Beginners and Beyond

Photo Report: Memorial Day Run for the Fallen (Read 12 times)

scottydawg

Barking Mad To Run

posted: 5/30/2016 at 3:26 PM

INTRO

I am Scott aka Scottydog aka Scotty Dogg, runner since 1983, cancer survivor – caught very early, so I actually had a fairly easy time of it - , retired Air Force, employee of University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA), friend of dogs, fun-runner, and all-around punster and goofball. In 2003 I had spinal arthritis flare up and ever since then I’ve done the run/walk method since it hurts my back too much now to run continuously with no walk breaks. I’m on what I call my “2F Plan” which stands for Fun and Finish. My only goals for a race these days are finish everything I start, have fun along the way, and finish standing up with no ambulance waiting for me. At events that I now do for fun I carry my camera, chase “Great Legs” to help motivate my slow old man self to keep moving forward, and take pictures before, during, and after the race. Sometimes I even get a nice post-race sweaty hug from one of the Great Legs ladies. I then do a pictorial race report of my events. I also carry dog biscuits with me to treat any dogs I may meet at a run – unless it’s a mean dog; then the biscuit goes in one direction and I go in another. Hence my nickname “Scottydog.” Here is yet another of my Race Reports with Photos. I am not exactly a good photographer but hey, at least all the photos are free so my ‘subjects’ can save and share their photos if they so desire. Mucho thanks to all the people I interacted with at this event for their graciousness, patience, and good humor in letting me take photos of them.

And a big thanks to runningahead.com for allowing me a “home” for my many many MANY race reports and photos. Great site, free training log; calendars; running routes, maps, and conversation forums for runners and much more!

BEFORE THE START

Organized by the local chapter of the national organization Wear Blue - Run to Remember, (www.wearblueruntoremember.org) , this event was held at Brackenridge Park in San Antonio. Initially scheduled to be a 5K, the course had to be shortened a bit due to all the run, water on some of the park roads, etc. It turned out to be around 2.4 or 2.5 miles; when I talked to some folks with Garmins post-race, the course varied among their results by about 1 to 2 tenths of a mile, so I'll just call it 2.5. No awards, no official timing, etc., this was simply and emotionally a run to honor and remember the fallen. Nice turnout, around 60 or so folks, including some of my fellow veteran team-mates from the San Antonio chapter of Team RWB (www.teamwrb.org). I got a few pre-start photos.

Yours Truly, with friend and Team RWB member, Steve

Due do the rain, the river water in the park was pretty high

Egrets were taking to the trees.

and the ducks were out in force....

...which excited this doggie, who suddenly took to the water in an attempt to get one of them.....you can see his little black head in the water....he did not succeed

...he got pretty close, though, until the duck finally got smart and took to flying to get out of there.

Wear Blue had some memorial photos up at the start/finish site.

Some of the participants

Before we went onto the course, each participant got a slip of paper with the name of a person who had fallen during a past Memorial Day weekend, and then an 'honor circle' was formed and each name was read out. After that, people were invited to announce the names of anyone he/she was personally running for. Finally, a short prayer was said in group comradery, with each person holding the shoulder of the person in front of him/her. Then we lined up and we were off. then we were off.

ON THE COURSE

Going along the San Antonio Zoo fence-line near the aviary part of the zoo.

One of the organizers and also a course marshal

Being greeted by the San Antonio Zoo/Brackenridge Park little train

On St. Mary's Street

On Mulberry Street, heading back to the park

AFTER I FINISHED

Got a few photos of some of the participants coming in.

This kid and I were near each other for pretty much the whole distance. One speedy kid. If his mom had not slowed him down at one point, I don't think I would have passed him, lol. As it was, he did beat his mom in - that is not his mom in the photo, she was still behind him - and while he was running away from her, a few of us 'Old Dog" guys ran with him and kept an eye on him for her. I see medals in his future.

Happy finishers...

The speedy young man with his mom. I wish I had half this kid's energy, lol.

Then it was off to the Team RWB area, where we celebrated the birthday of team-member Sylvia and enjoyed some really tasty grilled food, cold beer, water, etc., and birthday cake. Nice way to end a run.

Birthday Girl Sylvia (2nd from right) and friends

Sylvia with son and daughter-in-law

Team RWB grillers and food preparers. They put on a good spread!

Soon to be our newest Team RWB family, mother and her twins. I like that little girl already - Go Cubbies!

Sylvia cutting the birthday cake...

Group photo - some members of Team RWB San Antonio post-run, enjoying good food and good company.

EPILOG

A very nice way to spend Memorial Day morning. This is the first time I've done this event, as I was not all that familiar with Wear Blue Run to Remember.. Very nicely done, well organized, really nice people in this group too. Definitely would do another of their events in the future. Mucho thanks to all the organizers and volunteers, and mucho thanks to the Team RWB folks who gave us a great post-race feast.

"Do what you can, with what you have, where you are." Theodore Roosevelt